Fees

Entry requirements

Overview

The Business Computing BSc degree is a challenging course that provides highly relevant, hands-on experience. Through a mixture of theory and real-world practice, you’ll learn how to determine a dynamic mix of processes, which allow information delivery systems and users to carry out business effectively and efficiently. You’ll come to intuitively understand how an organisation’s information systems need to adapt to the changes and developments natural to growth and progress.

The modules on this degree course cover a range of topics, including the basic properties of software artefacts like information, algorithms, programs, common commercial system, and network architectures. System development approaches are also covered, including requirements capture, design methods, models, tools and techniques, implementing and testing systems, and software maintenance. Appreciation of project management issues arising from team-based software development is a key feature of the degree.

We’ll ensure that you have a strong approach to problem-solving both individually and in groups involving model-building and analysis, applying both theoretical and empirical knowledge to make choices and find solutions. You will also master commonly used notations and methods to reason and communicate clearly about requirements, specifications, designs and solutions. All factors which contribute to whether a business sinks or swims.

Our course is designed for flexibility, so if you’re not sure which route you want to go, you can select modules and specialise gradually during your time with us. You can transfer between Computer Science and Business Computing up to the start of Level 2, then should you wish, you can choose a specialism up to the start of Level 3.

We know that when you graduate, you’ll be working on large projects. That’s why one third of each year of our programmes is project-based. On Levels 1 and 2, you’ll build a software solution in a team, and in your final year you’ll carry out an individual project. You’ll also have the opportunity to showcase your projects at the annual Made in Brunel (Software Innovation) event, with awards presented by the likes of Cisco, Sky and Xerox.

As part of your degree course, you’ll have the chance to take a year-long work placement between your second year and third year. We’ll support you in finding that all-important paid professional experience, in the UK or abroad. The feedback we’ve received is that those who have taken a placement are much more likely to find a job for which their degree was a formal requirement as it gives you a competitive advantage. Recent graduates have gone on to work for well-known names such as Accenture, Toshiba, Microsoft, British Airways, O2, and Barclays.

Our programmes are accredited by the British Computer Society, the Chartered Institute for IT, for the purposes of fully meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional (CITP) The accreditation also allows you to apply for professional membership of the BCS after you have successfully completed your degree.

Brunel’s Computer Science department has been awarded an Athena SWAN Bronze, recognising our dedication to the advancement of gender equality in STEM subjects. We now have an ongoing three-year action plan to further implement strategies and improve our practices. As part of this endeavour, Brunel’s Women in Engineering and Computing mentoring scheme provides our female students with invaluable help and support from the industry.

You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.

Year 2

Year 3

Careers and your future

Our Business Computing graduates enjoy excellent employment prospects. With the ability to handle the increasing demands of scientific, technological and commercial development in the 21st century, you'll be in high demand with the wide-ranging companies and organisations increasingly dependent on computer technology.

You could go on to a career such as software developer, business analyst, web developer, technical architect or helpdesk engineer.

Recent graduates have taken up roles with companies such as Accenture, BP, FDM, the BBC and Wipro.

Access to Higher Education Diploma Complete and pass a related subject Access course with 45 credits at Level 3 with Merits in all units. Applicants must also have 2 years Computing or IT related work experience.

Foundations of Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics course For Brunel Foundation of Information Systems, Computing and Mathematics progression requirements, see the course page.

All BTEC combinations must include an A-level.

Five GCSEs at grade C or grade 4 and above are also required, to include Maths and English Language.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSEs.

EU and International entry requirements

If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.

English language requirements

Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.

Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.

Fees and funding

2019/20

UK / EU

£9,250 full-time

£1,000 placement year

International

£16,850 full-time

£1,000 placement year

Fees quoted are per year and may be subject to an annual increase. Home/EU undergraduate student fees are regulated and are currently capped at £9,250 per year; any changes will be subject to changes in government policy. International fees will increase annually, by no more than 5% or RPI (Retail Price Index), whichever is the greater.

Teaching and Learning

We take an innovative, dynamic and highly participative approach to teaching. Our lecturers often have experience of working as consultants for major blue chip companies at home and overseas. Around 40 academic staff teach in the department. The research that the academic staff undertake is largely applied and spans areas that include Artificial Intelligence, Data Analytics, Human-Computer Interaction, Software Engineering and Simulation. The Department of Computer Science is a member of the Microsoft Alliance, the Apple iOS Academic Developer Programme and is an nVidia CUDA Teaching Centre.

You will have about 12 hours a week of directed study. Your tutors and lecturers are also happy to answer queries outside of class. In addition, you’ll be putting in about 25 to 35 hours of private study weekly.

Teaching is carried out via lectures, lab work, small group-work, and one-to-one sessions. Lectures offer a broad overview of key concepts and ideas allowing you to then pursue more in-depth study independently. Lab work helps you develop your technical skills to build software. You’ll do some individual work, but a tutor will be assigned to you to lead discussion on common issues, when they arise.

In the first and second years you’ll work in small groups on computing-related problems with regular guidance from a member of staff. These sessions enable you to develop key professional skills such as report-writing, evaluation, and communication skills. They also ensure continuity and help you get to know your tutor, which we think is important to help you feel supported, particularly in your first year.

In your final year you’ll normally have small group or one-to-one supervision for your major project. The department has a team of personal tutors so there’s always someone available to discuss personal or academic problems. If you go on placement, your personal tutor will help you set objectives and monitor your progress, and provide further support if you need it.

Assessment and feedback

Assessment and feedback varies from one module to another and may be based entirely on coursework, entirely on examination or on a combination of both. As you progress, you’ll learn how to reliably assess the quality and value of your own before you submit it.

Level 1 does not count towards your final degree classification; Level 2 is worth a third; and Level 3 accounts for two thirds. Your final year project is worth a third of the Level 3 marks.